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Author: 


Title: 


The  History  of  the  house 
of  Hovey 

Place: 

Boston 

Date: 

[1919] 


MASTER   NEGATIVE   « 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 
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Hovey,  C.  F.,  co.,  Boston. 

The  history  of  tho  house  of  Hovey,  contain- 
ing some  interesting  reminiscences  of  almost 
three  quarters  of  a  century*  Boston,  C.  F. 
Hovey  co.  il919?j 

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C.  F.  HOVEY,  Founder 


The  History  of 
The  House  of  Hovey 

ISTORY  has  been  recorded  in  countless 
ways.  Ruined  walls,  crumbling  roads, 
withered  parchments  and  printed  pages 
give  us  glimpses  of  past  generations.  In 
more  modern  times,  a  fairly  accurate 
impression  of  a  people  may  be  gained 
from  the  ledgers  of  trade.  A  vivid  and 
human  story  is  told  across  the  counter;  what  is  claimed 
as  important  in  the  daily  living,  the  quality  and  quan- 
tity of  the  buying  show  the  social  status  of  a  community. 
What  is  luxury  and  a  convenience  to  one  generation 
becomes  a  necessity  to  the  next.  In  the  distribution  of 
merchandise  we  may  read  habits,  taste  and  financial 
conditions. 

The  growth  of  a  commercial  life  in  Boston  is  pecu- 
liarly interesting  because  it  is  closely  interwoven  with  a 
picturesque  and  stirring  history.  The  men  engaged  in 
importing  and  mercantile  enterprises  were^mgn 
strong  of  fibre  who  helped  to  shape  the^  "  ^ 
affairs  of  the  whole  country.  Nearly 
every  business  street  is  redolent  of\ 
history;  trading  is  tinged  with  >;^^:; 
the  dramatic. 

Trade  Centres  of  Boston~\^ 

Th.    commercial     centre,     off 

Boston  have  been  somewhat  mi- 
gratory.   The  spirit  of  tr^de  has 


Old  Statf  House 


H 


D 


IllllliiiiiiS^^^^^ 


92  Summer  Street 
In  1846 


i 


gone  before,  like  a  will  o'  the  wisp,  and  has  lured  quiet 
and  sequestered  streets  into  avenues  of  business ;  broad 
playgrounds  and  historic  sections  have  given  way  to 
industry  and  in  no  other  city  have  so  many  beautiful 
residences  become  engulfed  in  the  quicksands  of  trade. 
How  these  centres  have  formed  and  widened  is  a  story 
in  itself. 

A  community  is  formed  when  a  number  of  people, 
having  the  same  objects  and  interests,  are  drawn  into 
close  relations ;  as  a  community  grows  needs  increase ; 
at  the  point  where  these  demands  are  met,  there  is  in- 
tensive life  and  activity.  As  nothing  is  at  a  standstill, 
interests  widen  and  new  groups  are  formed,  more  or  less 
remote,  and  so  the  centre  of  activity  shifts  from  point 
to  point. 

The  Centre  of  the  Dry  Goods  Market  in  Boston 

Trade  was  first  at  the  wharf,  where  the  importers  sold 
to  the  wholesale  dealers;  trade  then  penetrated  Kilby 
and  Water  Streets, — moving  gradually  into  Hanover 
Street.  In  time  Tremont  Row  and  Washington  Street 
as  far  as  Milk  Street  were  given  over  to  commercial  life. 
Another  arm  of  trade  reached  from  the  sea  front  up  into 
Franklin  and  Pearl  Streets.  The  boot  and  shoe  trade 
began  to  encroach  upon  the  peace  of  those  streets  where 
fragrant  gardens  and  fountains  were  shaded  by  tall 
elms.    Great  chimneys  of  industry  etched  the  sky  line. 

At  the  time  ships  were  bringing  yard  goods  into  port, 
all  sewing  was  done  in  the  homes ;  there  were  no  ready- 
made  garments  on  the  market.  From  this  condition 
came  the  speedy  growth  of  the  retail  dry  goods  business. 


I(illll3ij!j|gii!iili^^ 


{ii;!i:^ni!;«!i!!!!!!iii!ii;!iii;i!!lli!MMillilil^^ 


I  ^* 


Trade  at  the  Water  Front 

It  has  been  claimed  that  the  little  clipper  ships  of  the 
early  forties  laid  the  foundation  of  the  wealth  of  Boston 
and  gave  it  the  reputation  as  a  world  port.  In  the  early- 
days,  importing  had  a  romantic  and  poetic  flavor,  for 
the  captains  braved  innumerable  perils, — the  sea,  piracy, 
mutiny  and  danger  of  loss  in  foreign  ports.  There  was 
not  a  port  in  the  world  that  Boston  ships  did  not  have 
the  right  of  entry,  and,  in  many  cases,  a  monopoly.  The 
entire  tea  trade  of  China  was  held  by  Boston  firms; 
ships  also  brought  silks,  calicos,  crepes,  cotton,  towels, 
lace,  beads,  perfumes,  preserves  and  boots  and  shoes. 

All  business  centred  on  the  wharves  or  in  that  vicinity. 
Massive  granite  warehouses  were  erected  and  men  met 
at  the  water  front  to  discuss  and  settle  questions  that 
are  now  in  control  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  the 
Board  of  Trade,  In  reference  to  that  period  the  sea 
front  has  been  called  the  'Wall  Street''  of  Boston.  Cer- 
tain it  is,  that  every  wharf  has  an  unique  history  and 
the  names  of  the  men  connected  with  the  importing 
business  appear  on  the  records  of  our  philanthropic  and 
educational  institutions.  Of  that  time,  Emerson  wrote, 
Each  street  leads  downward  to  the  sea** 

The  Early  History  of  the 
C.  F.  Hovey  Company 

More  than  a  prosaic  record  of 
business,  the  history  of  the  C.  F. 
Hovey  Company  is  a  strong  and 
important  thread  in  the  woven 
pattern  which  we  call  commer- 
cial progress.  Out  of  its  own 
,Rx^^        policy  came  new  methods  that 

Faneuil  Hall 


ft 


were  adopted  all  over  the  country;  out  of  its  everyday 
business  was  wrought  an  example  of  unassailable  in- 
tegrity. From  the  inception  of  the  business  in  1841, 
the  names  of  the  men  connected  directly  and  indirectly 
with  the  Hovey  business  have  been  the  names  of  those 
conspicuous  in  every  great  movement  for  the  betterment 
of  the  community. 

First  as  importers  and  wholesale  dealers,  then  as  retail 
dry  goods  merchants,  the  C.  F.  Hovey  Company  be- 
|came  an  authority  as  an  honored  New  England  Institu- 
tion. As  a  store  it  has  occupied  a  central  location,  while 
around  it  the  commercial  tides  have  circled, — ebbing 
and  flowing, — as  restless  as  the  tides  of  the  sea. 

The  policy  of  the  house  has  been  conservative  and  at 
the  same  time  establishing  new  methods;  it  has  been 
sagacious  but  has  held  in  check  all  short  sighted  or  sen- 
sational proceedings.  In  its  expansion,  the  Hovey  busi- 
[ness  has  avoided  inflation  but  it  has  extended  its  service 
into  wide  territories.  It  has  grown  as  the  city  has 
I  grown, — healthily  and  sanely. 

In  1841,  Charles  Fox  Hovey  withdrew  from  the  busi- 
Iness  of  J.  C.  Howe,  then  located  at  55  Kilby  Street,  and 
[entered  into  partnership  with  Washington  Williams  and 
ames  H.  Bryden.  As  importers  and  wholesale  dealers 
lin  dry  goods,  they  located  at  65  Water  Street.  In  1842, 
they  adopted  the  firm  name  of  Hovey,  Williams  and 
[Company. 

This  proved  to  be  a  highly  successful  venture.  How- 
lever,  Mr.  Hovey  was  a  man  of  progressive  thought  and 
action.  Influenced  somewhat  by  the  policy  of  A.  T. 
Stewart  of  New  York,  he  decided  to  add  to  the  business 
|a  branch  of  retailing. 

Goods  that  came  in  on  ships  were  sold  as  packages  to 
[the  wholesale  dealers  and  jobbers,  who  in  turn  broke 


»\n>  i- 


:^>: 


(ii:Plli;ti:!!!!!!i:'iiyi!iillll!!|^Mili5^ 


MllilSiiiiiilii!;!^^ 


^y;;:;:vj— ; 


Boston  Common,  1848 

From  an  old  print 


I 


SAMUEL  JOHNSON 

With  the  firm 
from  1846  to  1899 


them  up  and  sold  to  the  retail  trade.  This  involved 
three  sets  of  store  expenses.  Mr.  Hovey  wished  to  reach 
the  consumer  more  directly. 

With  the  end  in  view  of  establishing  a  business  in 
which  he  might  set  his  more  advanced  ideas  into  opera- 
tion, he  took  into  partnership  Richard  C.  Greenleaf  and 
John  Chandler,  who  had  been  carrying  on  a  retail  dry 
goods  business  on  Washington  Street. 

Despite  some  opposition,  Mr.  Hovey  decided  to  locate 
on  Winter  Street.  Many  believed  this  to  be  foolhardy, 
as  it  was  turning  away  from  the  centre  of  trade  then 
moving  up  Washington  Street.  It  was  first  desired  to 
secure  the  corner  of  Summer  Street  now  occupied  by 
A.  Shuman,  but  Thomas  Wigglesworth  erected  a  build- 
ing in  Winter  Street  and  on  September  9th,  1846,  Hovey 
Williams  and  Company  located  at  number  thirteen.  It 
may  be  of  interest  to  know  that  the  rent  of  the  store  at 
that  time  was  $2900.  per  annum.  This  was  the  first 
business  house  on  the  street  and  the  step  was  far  from 
hazardous.  Prosperity  came  to  the  firni  and  many  new 
methods  were  introduced  into  the  business  that  are  con- 
sidered important  in  the  merchandising  of  today. 

Mr.  Hovey y  a  Commercial  Pioneer 

The  founder  of  the  C.  F.  Hovey  Company  did  not 
wait  for  paths  to  be  blazed;  he  struck  out  into  virgin 
fields,  entirely  unafraid, — with  the  courage  born  of  strict 
integrity.  He  chose  his  associates  wisely  and  he  settled 
questions  for  himself  that  have  been  threshed  out  in 
more  modern  times.  To  worth,  not  to  wealth,  is  due  his 
example  of  progressive  achievements. 

To  Mr.  Hovey  is  given  the  honor  of  being  the  first  to 
introduce  the  one-price  system  in  retailing.  At  about 
the  same  time  A.  T.  Stewart  in  New  York  tried  out  the 
method  successfully.    Previously  clerks  had  obtained 


(iiiiiiiiliiSiii^^^ 


what  prices  they  could  by  "talking  up"  goods.  Often  at 
the  same  counter,  one  clerk  would  rival  another  in  sell- 
ing the  same  kind  of  merchandise.  This  plan  was  dis- 
tinctly offensive  to  Mr.  Hovey,  who  always  had  the  good 
of  the  public  at  heart,  and  so  in  his  store  all  goods  were 
plainly  marked  and  he  took  for  his  slogan,  ^'standard 
goods  at  a  standard  pricey 

Being  just  and  for  the  good  of  all,  this  procedure  at- 
tracted attention  and  was  adopted  all  over  the  country. 
And  so  it  was  the  inception  of  the  C.  F.  Hovey  Company 
was  more  than  the  founding  of  a  successful  business 
house ;  it  was  the  springing  into  life  of  a  vital  force  in 
the  commercial  world. 

Another  welcome  innovation  was  that  of  early  clos- 
ing. In  this  Mr.  Hovey's  advanced  ideas  worked  for  the 
good  of  all.  All  stores  were  in  the  habit  of  keeping  open 
during  the  evening  and  half  after  six  was  the  earliest 
hour  of  closing  for  any  reason  whatsoever.  When 
Hovey,  Williams  and  Company  shortened  the  working 
hours  for  their  employees  other  merchants  did  the  same, 
— in  Boston  and  in  all  other  cities, — and  so  this  dry 
goods  house  became  an  institution  that  was  well  known, 
— with  far  reaching  influences. 

Mr.  Hovey'' s  Associates 

In  1848,  Washington  Williams  retired  and  the  firm 
name  was  changed  to  C.  F.  Hovey  and  Company. 

In  1849,  John  Chandler  retired  and  in  1850  James  H. 
Bryden  died. 

In  the  following  year  Henry  Woods,  Samuel  Johnson, 
Jr.,  and  William  Endicott,  Jr.,  were  admitted  to  the 
firm. 

In  that  fact  alone  there  is  a  tribute  paid  to  the  com- 
mercial standing  of  the  C.  F.  Hovey  Company,  for  these 
three  men  represented  that  fine  New  England  stock 
which  is  the  backbone  of  Eastern  enterprise. 


^®»ii!S^^^^^^^^ 


Mr.  Endicott  was  a  native  of  Beverly  and  a  descend- 
ant of  Governor  Endicott.  He  came  as  cashier  for  the 
firm  and  in  four  years  was  given  an  interest  in  the  busi- 
ness,— shortly  after  being  made  partner. 

The  names  of  Henry  Woods  and  Samuel  Johnson 
have  been  connected  with  the  history  of  the  city  along 
all  the  progressive  lines.  To 
these  men  as  well  as  to  Mr. 
Hovey  belongs  the  credit  of 
keeping  the  business  of  C.  F. 
Hovey  and  Company  invio- 
late and  respected. 

It  is  difficult  to  find  any 
public-spirited  movement  of 
his  time  that  does  not  bear 
Mr.  Endicott's  name.  He  was 
President  of  the  Museum  of 
Fine  Arts,  succeeding  Martin 
Brimmer.  Twice  in  the  history 
of  the  Institute  of  Technology, 
he  has  raised  $250,000.  to 
tide  it  over  financial  obstacles. 
He  was  the  president  of  two 
banks  and  a  director  in  many,  Tnmty  Church  before  the  Fiu 
as  well  as  a  trustee  of  all  the  »/  i872^from  old  prim 
great  charities.  He  was  not,  however,  circumscribed  by 
the  activities  of  one  city.  He  had  interests  as  broad  as 
the  country  itself.  Such  were  the  men  whom  Mr.  Hovey 
drew  about  him  and  with  such  men  he  was  associated 
for  long  periods, — in  fact  until  his  death. 

Emerson  has  described  a  great  man  as  one  who  in- 
habits a  higher  sphere  of  thought  into  which  other  men 
rise  with  labor  and  difficulty.  He  must  be  a  great  man 
who  conceives  plans  to  benefit  mankind  without  waiting 
for  conditions  or  men  to  demand  them. 


I  .. 


gPilHIiiiiiiiS!^^^^^^^ 


A  Yesterday  in 
Summer  Street 


WILLIAM  ENDICOTT,  Jr. 
Member  of  the  firm,  and  with  them 
from  1846  to  1910 


[li!ip!i;!:i!!!i!l!i;iiiii;ij!lll!!iiill^ 


In  our  present  time — ^with  the  confliction  of  capital 
and  labor — we  discuss  the  distribution  of  profit  among 
employees  as  if  it  were  new  to  the  present  generation. 
Those  who  were  first  to  distribute  what  is  known  as 
bonus,  have  been  pointed  out  as  progressives  and  to 
their  names  have  been  attached  a  certain  philanthropic 
glory. 

As  early  as  1854,  C.  F.  Hovey  beheld  the  vision  of 
profit  sharing,  and  again  as  pioneer,  he  proceeded  to 
follow  where  his  vision  lead.  To  corroborate  this  fact, 
a  letter  written  from  the  Paris  office,  where  Mr.  Hovey 
had  gone  on  business  connected  with  importing,  is 
quoted  herewith.  It  not  only  reveals  the  man  as  a  pro- 
gressive thinker  but  as  one  who  was  generous  to  those 
in  his  employ.  Much  homely  philosophy  and  good  com- 
mon sense  is  embodied  in  the  communication. 

Paris,  March  8,   1854. 
"I  wish  you  to  get  two  thousand  dollars  from  C.  F.  Hovey  and  Company  and 
to  charge  the  same  to  my  account.    This  money  I  wish  to  dispose  of  immedi- 
ately as  follows: — 

"Divide  it  with  those  who  have  been  with  us  since  August  1,  1853,  and 
whom  you  still  continue  in  your  employ;  let  the  dividend  be  in  proportion  to 
the  salaries  they  received  between  August  1,  1853,  and  February  1,  1854. 

"I  send  this  money  to  these  persons  because  if  they  have  been  faithful,  I 
feel  that  it  is  doing  them  no  more  than  justice.  If  there  are  any  among  them 
who  have  not  been  faithful,  so  much  the  worse  for  them. 

"If  they  will  allow  a  person  much  older  than  themselves, — and  one  who  has 
probably  had  more  experience,— to  give  them  a  word  of  advice,  the  time  may 
come  when  they  will  feel  it  was  worth  receiving  and  paying  attention  to;  but 
I  must  say  that  I  have  very  little  faith  that  they  will  follow  my  advice. 

"In  the  first  place,  then,— in  the  language  of  John  Randolph,— I  want  to 
say  to  them,—  « ^pAY  AS  YOU  GO.' 

"Then  I  would  say  to  them,  *do  your  own  thinking  on  all  subjects  and  save 
the  Priests,  Doctors  of  Divinity,  Generals,  Judges,  Lawyers,  Doctors  and  States- 
men the  trouble  of  thinking  for  you. — ^which  they  are  always  ready  to  do.'  I 
assure  you  that  these  great  people,  whom  I  have  named  above,  are  only*  (as 
the  French  say)  'Grande  par  que  nous  sommes  a  genou'  which  may  be  trans- 
lated thus,  The  great  only  appear  great  to  us  because  we  are  on  our  knees.' 

"I  should  add,  however,  that  grand  in  French,  means  tall  as  well  as  great. 

"After  thinking  freely  for  yourselves  at  all  times,  dare  to  say  what  you 
think,  however  unpopular  your  thoughts  may  be,  and  remember  a  dead  fish 
can  swim  down  stream  but  it  takes  a  live  one  to  swim  up. 

"I  remain,  Yours  very  truly, 

C.  F.  HOVEY." 


H 


ililll'iiiiiiiliilli^ 


MOOilS'ii^^^^^ 


It  has  always  been  believed  that  much  character  is 
revealed  in  letters  and  it  is  from  letters  that  we  have 
gained  the  most  intimate  glimpses  of  public  men. 

This  letter  expresses  the  spirit  that  ruled  the  life  of 
Charles  Fox  Hovey  and  shows  why  the  business  of  a 
retail  dry  goods  house  has  persisted  so  long  without  a 
change  of  its  honorable  policy.  Strong  convictions  laid 
the  foundation  and  he  chose  the  best  men  of  the  time 
for  his  business  associates. 

It  is  his  own  free  thinking  and  his  daring  speech  and 
action  that  gave  us  his  methods  for  an  example  today. 
He  dared  to  take  steps  in  his  business  and  to  take  them 
alone,  that  others  have  chosen  after  discussion,  consid- 
eration and — often  then — reluctantly. 

The  New  Store  in  Summer  Street y  1854 

In  many  of  the  busiest  streets  of  Boston,  on  stone 
walls  and  on  the  sides  of  great  business  structures,  there 
are  bronze  tablets  to  mark  historic  events  or  to  call  to 
mind  the  grateful  thought  of  a  philanthropist  or  re- 
former. But  there  are  few  tablets  to  mark  the  passing 
of  fine  old  homes  of  chaste  symmetry  and  classic  design 
that  have  been  replaced  by  offices,  banks  and  stores. 
There  are  few  written  pages  that  record  the  growth  of 
the  retail  houses  in  Boston ;  and  yet,  nearly  all  the  great 
department  stores  are  located  upon  historic  land  or  upon 
splendid  estates  belonging  to  the  old  royalists,  the 
Huguenots  or  the  early  settlers  of  Boston. 

The  land  upon  which  the  C.  F.  Hovey  Company  is 
located  is  part  of  a  famous  estate.  The  mere  fact  that 
the  Hovey  business  came  to  Summer  Street,  September 
9th,  1854,  and  that  the  store  was  the  only  business  house 
on  the  street,  is  only  the  beginning  of  an  interesting 
story. 


The  estate  upon  which  the  store  stands  was  in  exist- 
ence when  Boston  was  laid  out, — ^which  cannot  be  said 
of  many  others.  The  original  owner,  Sir  William  Pep- 
perell,  was  a  royalist,  and  when  the  difficulties  at  home 
called  for  his  adherence  to  the  crown,  his  property  was 
confiscated.  It  passed  to  the  ownership  of  Thomas 
Hubbard  and  then  to  Leonard  Vassall,  whose  property 
extended  to  the  estate  at  the  corner  of  Washington 
Street  which  wa^  owned  by  Thomas  English. 

Leonard  Vassall  was  also  a  royalist  and  the  property 
was  again  confiscated  and  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Frederick  William  Geyer. 

At  that  time  there  were  many  wonderful  mansions  in 
the  vicinity,  including  those  of  men  whose  names  honor 
our  public  buildings  and  streets.  There  was  much 
wealth;  great  farms  stretched  on  every  hand, — north- 
ward along  the  Merrimac  River  and  in  Medford,  Lex- 
ington and  Concord.  The  post  chaise  was  a  means  of 
communication. 

The  Geyer  mansion  was  one  of  the  most  wonderful 
in  the  country.  Here  congregated  the  men  of  letters 
and  strong  adherents  to  the  crown.  The  life  of  the  home 
was  one  of  magnificent  prodigality. 

Within  the  area  of  the  C.  F. 
Hovey  Company's  store,  great 
men  have  argued,  quarreled, 
laughed  or  danced.  Rotation 
is  one  of  the  great  funda- 
mental laws  of  nature. 


The  Father  of  ^jueen 
Victoria  a  Guest 

When  the  Duke  of  Kent,  .^^,^ 
fourth  son  of  George  III  and  ^^"-^^ 
the  father  of  Queen  Victoria, 


Darnel  Webster's  Home 
Summer  y  High  Streets,  1850 


w 


!i«IKj|!S^^^^^^^^ 


The  Old  Gardner 
Estate 


;!i:!i^illlSli!!!i!i!iii;iii!ii;i!!llliPGIi^ 


came  to  this  country,  he  attended  the  wedding  of 
Rufus  Amory  and  Nancy  Geyer  in  the  mansion  on 
Summer  Street.  It  is  supposable  that  his  real  mission 
was  not  to  dance  at  a  wedding,  for  there  was  much  of 
interest  going  on  in  political  circles. 

When  the  royalist  departed  for  England  to  prove  al- 
legiance to  the  crown,  the  estate  was  again  confiscated, 
and  in  time  it  became  the  property  of  S.  P.  Gardner, 
whose  initials  still  are  seen  upon  the  front  of  the  Hovey 
store. 

Horticulture  had  become  a  pleasant  study  and  pas- 
time,— the  love  of  gardens  having  been  transplanted 
along  with  other  English  ideas, — and  the  Gardner  estate 
was  among  the  most  beautiful.  Wonderful  flowers  and 
shady  walks,  fountains,  towering  elms, — all  contributed 
to  the  beauty  of  the  place.  Fruit  trees  were  abundant 
and  it  is  said  that  one  pear  tree  was  left  standing  in  the 
garden  as  late  as  1870. 

As  neighbors,  the  owners  of  the  Gardner  estate  en- 
joyed the  association  of  the  best  families  that  the  city 
has  known.  The  residential  life  of  Boston  has  been  as 
restless  as  the  commercial.  It  has  drifted  from  one 
beautiful  section  to  another.  If  historic  and  beautiful 
streets  have  been  given  over  to  business,  it  is  the  wealth 
accruing  from  such  changes  that  have  made  possible 
the  extensive  parks,  playgrounds,  charities,  libraries  and 
schools  of  a  cultured  city;  as  the  times  grew  less  trouble- 
some, men  turned  their  attention  to  the  needs  of  fellow 
man. 

The  Busines  Conditions  of  the  Time 
At  the  time  C.  F.  Hovey  and  Company  came  into 
Summer  Street,  the  valuation  of  the  land  was  $3.50  per 
square  foot.  Land  at  the  foot  of  the  Common  was  selling 
at  seventy-five  cents  a  foot  and  at  the  corner  of  Boylston 
and  Tremont  Streets  the  value  was  one  dollar  a  foot.  It 


!i 


MKiBliiS^^^^^^^^^ 


was  said  at  that  time  that  land  would  never  be  any 
higher  in  Boston.  The  city  had  about  130,000  inhabi- 
tants and  it  was  said  that  throughout  the  country  there 
was  a  dry  goods  house  to  every  two  thousand  inhabi- 
tants. There  were  about  thirty  banks  in  the  city  and 
seventy  churches.  The  principal  buildings  were  the  Old 
State  House,  Faneuil  Hall,  Quincy  Market,  the  Court 
House,  a  Hospital  and  a  Jail,  the  Merchants  Exchange 
and  the  old  Athaeneum  Art  Gallery  on  Pearl  Street. 

As  Mr.  Hovey  was  often  in  Paris  on  business  con- 
nected with  the  Company,  the  equipment  of  the  store 
fell  largely  upon  Mr.  Endicott.  The  store  was  about  one 
hundred  and  eighty  feet  in  depth  with  a  seventy  foot 
front.  The  lease  for  the  first  ten  years  was  based  upon 
five  per  cent  for  the  value  of  the  land  and  ten  per  cent 
for  the  value  of  the  building. 

Under  pleasant  auspices  the  store  expanded  and  the 
business  increased,  having  the  trade  of  the  exclusive 
families  in  that  section  as  well  as  a  wholesale  business 
of  magnitude  throughout  New  England. 

The  Panic  and  ^^ Family  Bills  " 

In  1857,  several  large  insurance  houses  in  the  west 
failed.  As  a  fire  in  the  forest  catches  from  tree  to  tree, 
so  the  financial  depression  swept  across  the  country  and 
house  after  house  was  wiped  out  of  existence.  Many 
commission  houses  failed. 

Mr.  Hovey  believed  that  the  credit  system  was  largely 
responsible  for  the  condition, — something  that  has  been 
detrimental  in  our  own  day.  There  was  long  credit  be- 
tween the  wholesale  dealers,  the  jobbers  and  the  retail 
dealers,  but  the  difficulty  that  seemed  most  threatening 
was  ''the  family  bills" 

It  was  the  custom  in  all  stores  to  allow  charge  ac- 
counts to  run  a  year.    All  the  family  bought  upon  the 


family  bill  and  accounts  were  rendered  on  December 
31st.  The  store  was  thus  deprived  of  the  use  of  ready 
money  and  of  the  interest. 

With  his  usual  fearlessness,  Mr.  Hovey  was  the  first 
to  begin  the  monthly  payment  system  that  was  soon 
adopted  throughout  the  country.  The  Hovey  business 
maintained  its  strength  throughout  the  period  of  finan- 
cial depression  and  suffered  no  diminution  of  success. 

The  Yesterdays  of  Summer  Street 

Than  Summer  Street,  no  thoroughfare  of  its  length 
can  boast  such  an  interesting  residential  history.  Origi- 
nally the  street  was  called  -'Ye  Mylne  Street,"  and  after- 
ward ''Seven  Star  Lane,"  so  named  for  Pleides  Inn," 
afterward  Seven  Star  Inn.  In  that  day  Temple  Place 
was  "Turn  Again  Alley"  and  High  Street  was  "Cow 
Lane" 

State  and  Milk  Streets  have  an  historic  interest,  but 
Summer  Street  has  its  literary  association.  Men  who 
are  distinguished  in  letters  throughout  the  world  have 
played  as  children  in  the  pasture  lands  bordering  the 
street.  At  the  foot  of  the  street  was  a  fine  view  of  the 
harbor  and  an  inlet  extended  to  the  junction  of  Franklin 


and  Devonshire  Streets. 
Vanten     the     artist, — 
who  was  a  companion 
of    the    famous    ship- 
wrecked Parson  Avery, 
— has  left  a 
water    color 
of    Summer 
Street  show- 
ing the  beau- 
tiful    shade 


I 


trees.     It  was  a  street 
of  wrought  iron  fences 
enclosing  fragrant  gar- 
dens watered 
^  by  fountains. 
Opposite 
the    Hovey 
store     stood 
Trinity 
Church,  with 
its  three  rows 
of  vaults  for 


CkufcfrCr^fn, 


11 


^i&wm. 


illilll!i;liiS^^^^ 


the  dead.  The  original  church  was  built  in  1735  and  re- 
built in  later  years.  Here  George  Washington  wor- 
shipped when  he  was  in  Boston.  Famous  Peter  Faneuil 
owned  Pew  40  in  this  church. 

On  the  corner  of  Hawley  Street  was  the  home  of 
Governor  Sullivan,  who  laid  out  Hawley  Street  across 
his  farm  and  gave  it  to  the  city.  -"Billy"  Gray,  the 
wealthiest  man  in  Massachusetts  and  the  owner  of  sixty 
rigged  ships,  was  also  an  owner  in  the  vicinity.  The 
home  of  Daniel  Webster  was  at  the  corner  of  Summer 
and  High  Streets.  Here  Lafayette  was  entertained. 

In  Winthrop  Place,  now  Devonshire  Street,  lived 
Rufus  Choate,  Henry  Higginson  and  Thomas  Motley, 
father  of  the  great  historian  who  was  born  there.  Below 
near  Bedford  Street,  on  Summer,  lived  John  P.  Gushing, 
whose  name  will  be  respected  for  his  honorable  dealings 
with  China.  His  fine  old  home  and  oriental  servants 
created  interest  in  their  day. 

At  the  comer  of  Oris  Place,  named  for  a  householder, 
Harrison  Gray  Oris,  lived  the  historian  Bancroft,  and 
often  in  his  home  were  entertained  Margaret  Fuller  and 
William  Ellery  Channing. 

James  C.  Paige  lived  in  Summer  Street  and  his  neigh- 
bor was  Col.  James  W.  Seaver,  whose  wife  gave  Seaver 
Hall  to  Harvard. 

Other  names  well  known  to  the  world  are  connected 
with  that  neighborhood  sociability  for  which  Summer 
Street  was  noted, — Benjamin  Apthorp  Gould,  astrono- 
mer, H.  Hollis  Hunnewell,  and  not  to  be  forgotten  was 
the  home,  near  Daniel  Webster's  of  Nathaniel 
Bowditch,  "Navigator,"  a  man  who  left  such  valuable 
information  to  seafaring  men. 

Residential  Chauncy  Street 
Named  for  the  first  pastor  of  First  Church. 
The  street  whereon  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  was  bom 


holds  interest  to  the  world  but  for  many  other  reasons 
the  street  occupies  an  unique  place  in  early  Boston 
history. 

The  First  Church  of  Boston, — founded  in  1860  by 
the  society  of  the  actual  first  church  of  the  city,  was 
built  in  1807  and  the  "Church  Green"  shaded  by  tall 
lombardy  poplars  was  a  famous  spot.  In  this  street 
lived  Emerson's  father  in  the  parsonage,  as  minister  of 
the  church  for  twelve  years. 

Near  by  lived,  at  various  periods,  George  Cabot, 
Henry  Cabot  Lodge,  George  Bond,  Samuel  Baxter, 
Gideon  Thayer,  Rufus  Ellis  and  Nathaniel  Frothing- 
ham, — all  names  revered  in  the  memory  of  Bostonians. 

Here  lived  Isaac  Rich,  Lee  Claflin  and  Jacob  Sleeper 
who  founded  Boston  University  and  here  Chauncy  Hall 
School  began. 

The  famous  surgeon,  Henry  Bigelow  and  Robert  Win- 
throp also  lived  in  Chauncy  Street.  Adjoining  what  is 
now  the  Hovey  store,  lived  the  brother  of  Commodore 
Perry. 

Changes  Come 

In  1859  Charles  Fox  Hovey  died.    No  better  trlbutl 
can  be  paid  to  this  man  than  to  say  that  the  businesjj 
which   he   had  built   upon   a     /jy/.  .,-.^i^ 
thorough       foundation,       re-   \}  L^^^y 
mained  secure  in  its  position 
and   that   his   work   did   not 
crumble  when  his  hands  were 
withdrawn.    Above  the  many  , 
innovations    and    movements  ; 
far  in  advance  of  the  thought 
of  his  time,  he  is  reverenced 
for  his  integrity,  his  good  citi- 
zenship and  his  philanthropic 
generosity. 


House  of  fFUliam  Gray,  corner  of 
Summer  U  Kingston  Streets^  1850 


,Qi 


% 


H 


In  1859  a  partnership  was  formed  by  admitting  to  the 
firm, — ^Thomas  Mack  and  Augustus  De  Puyster. 

These  were  the  men  on  whom  it  devolved  to  carry  the 
business  of  C.  F.  Hovey  and  Company  through  the 
period  of  the  Civil  War.  That  they  played  a  notable 
and  honored  part  is  attested  by  the  courteous  act  of 
Governor  John  A.  Andrews  in  recognition  of  the  many 
generous  contributions  made  for  the  war. 

In  this  connection  we  quote  the  following  letter: — 

Messrs.  C.  F.  Hovey  &  Company, 

Gentlemen : — 

"His  Excellency,  Governor  Andrews,  directs  me  to  enclose  to  you  four  com- 
missions as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  addressed  respectively  to  Richard  C.  Greenleaf, 
Samuel  Johnson,  Jr.,  Henry  Woods  and  William  Endicott,  Jr.,  Esquires,— as 
^  if-  u°^^  ^°^^"  °^-  '*^co^j^»o"»--b«sides  his  most  grateful  acknowledgement,— 
which  he  finds  within  his  power  to  make, — of  your  constant  and  generous 
contributions  to  the  cause  of  the  country;  and  with  assurances  of  his  Excel- 
lency's high  consideration  and  respect. 
"I  have  the  honor  to  be 

Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  G.  BROWN,  JR., 

Private  Secretary." 

From  No.  79  Rue  Richelieu,— the  Paris  office  of  the 
Hovey  Company,  came  a  reply  in  the  somewhat  formal 
and  distinctive  style  of  that  day,  disclaiming  any  merit 
of  generosity  and  affirming  eagerness  to  place  all  grati- 
tude and  honor  with  those  who  had  given  their  lives  to 
the  cause. 

The  period  following  the  war  brought  the  usual  buoy- 
ancy in  industrial  and  economic  conditions,  followed 
by  a  corresponding  depression. 

In  1870  Edward  C.  Johnson 
and  the  late  Samuel  P.  Mandell 
were  admitted  to  the  firm. 

Mr.  Mandell  had  been  in  the 
Hovey  business  since  1848.  He 
had  often  stated  that  his  first 
salary  was  one  hundred  dollars 


^ 


T^'^fW.i 


>it. 


'Ui 


I 


amiMSL  H  JMUiroffl8tl^^ 


a  year.  After  only  eleven  months  he  was  made  a  sales- 
man and  when  the  business  came  into  Summer  Street 
he  was  given  a  responsible  place  in  the  wholesale  busi- 
ness, attending  to  the  New  England  trade  and  making 
several  trips  to  the  Paris  office.  Mr.  Mandell  had  many 
other  interests,  having  been  President  of  the  Boston 
Transcript  business  for  about  forty-five  years.  He  was 
made  Vice-President  of  the  Hovey  business  in  1914. 

Mr.  Edward  C.  Johnson  entered  the  firm  in  1870  and 
was  one  of  that  close  partnership  that  endured  for  so 
long  and  by  enduring  held  the  reputation  of  the  busi- 
ness at  its  high  standard. 

TAe  Boston  Fire 

Every  business  enterprise  has  some  point  in  its  his- 
tory that  is  tinged  with  the  effect  of  the  great  fire  of 
1872.  The  C.  F.  Hovey  store  is  not  without  its  unique 
experiences  at  that  time. 

It  is  common  history  that  the  fire  originated  near  the 
small  engine  under  the  elevator  in  a  building  on  the 
south  easterly  side  of  Summer  and  Kingston  Streets. 
The  fire  crossed  Kingston  Street,  at  the  comer  of  Sum- 
mer, glided  along  the  roofs  of  Chauncy  Street,  feeding 
upon  the  wealth  of  merchandise  with  which  it  came  into 
contact.  Spreading  up  Summer  the  fire  crossed  to  Wash- 
ington ;  it  passed  through  High,  Devonshire,  Otis,  Haw- 
ley,  and  took  its  course  to  State  Street.  It  continually 
raged  northward  against  the  wind  until  it  had  laid  waste 
the  whole  area  that  comprised  the  business  section  of 
Boston. 

On  the  morning  after  the  fire,  the  store  of  C.  F.  Hovey 
Company  was  the  only  building  left  on  Summer  Street. 

The  saving  of  the  Hovey  building  was  accomplished 
in  a  manner  that  we  might  in  this  day  call  primitive  but 


ift 


11 


1^ 


King's  Chapel,  I860 


!)ll!i»  SS^^^^ 


it  was  none  the  less  effectual.    Also  much  credit — per- 
haps all  credit, — is  due  to  an  employee  of  the  store. 

The  buyer  for  the  blanket  department  was  the  chief 
of  the  Quincy  Fire  Department  and  when  the  second 
alarm  came,  he  brought  his  company  into  the  city  and 
without  reporting  at  City  Hall  he  made  his  way  to  the 
Hovey  store.  Forming  his  brigade,  he  took  blankets 
from  the  store  and  covered  the  roofs  and  all  the  win- 
dows. Keeping  these  wet,  and  forming  a  bucket  line 
to  the  roof  he  was  able  to  save  the  building.  On  the  fol- 
lowing morning  a  letter  was  received  from  the  Boston 
Fire  Department  which  it  seems  fitting  to  quote. 

C.  F.  Hovey  &  Company, 
Dear  Sirs: — 

"I  cannot  longer  delay  from  expressing  to  you  my  gratitude  and  thanks  for 
the  forethought  and  valuable  assistance  rendered  to  me  and  the  department 
that  I  command,  as  well  as  to  the  city  of  Boston  for  the  herculean  labor  of 
your  force  in  the  protection  of  your  property  on  Summer  Street  by  placing 
blankets  on  your  windows  and  keeping  them  wet.  If  the  merchants  of  Boston 
who  have  suffered  would  have  done  the  same  the  desolation  of  this  morning 
would  not  be  so  great. 

Yours  sincerely, 

JOHN  S.  DAMRELL,  Chirf  Engiruer.** 

Substantial  aid  was  given  to  the  sufferers  and  among 
the  donations  was  that  of  C.  F.  Hovey  and  Company 
for  ten  thousand  dollars. 

In  1882,  Henry  Endicott  retired,  and  in  1887  Richard 
C.  Greenleaf  deceased.  In  1894  Thomas  Mack  retired 
and  Samuel  Johnson  second,  William  D.  Mandell  and 
Wolcott  H.  Johnson  were  admitted  to  the  firm. 

Following  came  the  death  of  George  L.  Lovett,  Sam- 
uel Johnson  and  Henry  Woods,  later  the  retirement  of 
William  Endicott, — after  sixty-four  years  a  member  of 
the  firm,  and  Wolcott  H.  Johnson  deceased. 

Despite  this  record  of  change  there  is  hardly  a  firm 
that  holds  such  history  of  long  partnership  as  the  C.  F. 
Hovey  Company.    It  has  always  been  said  that  one  of 


^iHi-il   !S^^^^^^ 


illlllSiS^^^^ 


the  basic  secrets  of  the  firm's  success  was  the  mutual 
respect,  confidence  and  consequent  harmony  existing 
between  the  members. 

There  are  few  examples  of  such  life-long  association 
as  that  of  Messrs.  Mandell,  Endicott,  the  two  Johnsons, 
Greenleaf  and  Woods. 

These  five  associates  were  together  thirty-nine  years. 
After  the  death  of  Mr.  Greenleaf  and  Mr.  Johnson  the 
elder,  the  remaining  three  were  in  partnership  for  fifty- 
four  years.  In  the  entire  span  of  seventy-three  years 
there  were  only  seventeen  partners. 

In  1914  the  name  of  the  firm  was  changed  to  The  C. 
F.  Hovey  Company. 

On  July  1st,  1919,  Mr.  E.  C.  Johnson  and  Mr.  Samuel 
P.  Mandell  retired  from  the  firm  of  C.  F.  Hovey  Com- 
pany. 

Mr.  Samuel  Johnson  was  made  President,  and  Mr. 
Louis  Rivers  was  admitted  to  the  firm  as  Vice-President 
and  General  Manager.  Mr.  Rivers  is  well  known  to  the 
general  dry  goods  business  community,  having  been 
continuously  in  the  business  in  nearly  all  merchandizing 
capacities  since  1882.  He  began  his  career  as  utility 
boy  with  the  fine  old  firm  of  G.  V.  S.  Quackenbush,  of 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  about  ten  years. 

Mr.  Rivers'  ambition  for  something  bigger^an^^^more  '^.  ^ 
promising  for  the  future  took  him  to  the  -bt)U5e  of 
Frederick  Loeser  &  Company, 
of   Brooklyn,   N.  Y.,   leaving 
there  as  an  assistant  buyer  to    ^  ^ 
assume  his  first  responsibility 
as  buyer  for  James  McCreery 
&  Company  in  their  old  store 
at  Broadway  and  11th  Street 
in  New  York  City. 


Corner  of  Summer  y  Hawley  Streets^  1850 


ml 


Boston  Harbor,  1848 

From  an  old  print 


8YMRNA  TOWELS  -  Two  B»1m 
Bathing  TowcU  iu»f  received  by  the 
"CauUpa"  from  Svmrma  and  for  »!e 
by  C.  F.  Hovir  V  Co.,  K»  Winter  St. 

Jc  10 

►  rom  Dauv  En-T«A»<»ctirT.  Aii(M  17,  Il4« 


'3» 


He  remained  there  long  enough  to  absorb  a  great  deal 
under  the  personal  direction  of  that  able  old  merchant, 
James  McCreery. 

On  February  1st,  1920,  Samuel  Johnson  retired,  and 
Mr.  Rivers  was  elected  President  and  Mr.  Joseph  1. 
Gilman  Vice-President. 

Mr  Rivers  is  an  organization  man.  His  first  work 
has  been  to  surround  himself  with  the  best  force  that 
he  could  secure  to  handle  the  details  of  the  business  In 
doing  this,  he  found  that  for  knowledge  of  merchandise 
of  the  more  dependable  sort,  the  old  Hovey  organization 
was  second  to  none.  Therefore,  action  was  taken  to 
add  considerably  to  the  garment  organization,  to  accom- 
plish its  proper  extension  and  to  secure  heads  ot  the 
various  sections  to  assist  and  direct  buyers.  This  was 
done  to  give  the  buying  organization  daily  assistance 
from  trained  merchandise  people. 

Extensive  alterations  have  been  going  on  since  Aug- 
ust first,  and  today  the  store  has  fifty  per  cent,  more 
selling  space  for  retailing  which  was  found  by  elimi- 
nating the  jobbing  departments.  No  great  changes 
were  made  in  the  old  force,  no  old  employees  were 
dropped  but  the  force  has  been  increased  twenty-five 
per  cent.    Sales  have  increased  ninety  per  cent. 

The  merchandise  policy  of  the  company  is  to  con- 
duct a  high-class  department  store  along  the  old 
Hovey  standards  in  every  branch  of  the  business  and 
with  the  hope  of  co-ordinating  all  departments,  so  that 
each  department  will  do  its  share  to  provide  adequately 
the  kind  of  merchandise  that  will  be  a  credit  to  the 
honored  name  of  C.  F.  Hovey. 

To  that  end  it  will  be  the  aim  to  carry  that  quality 
and  assortment  of  merchandise  and  to  give  the  kind  of 


I  •  1 


I 

•     1 


■;«s<- 


'%  ^,^: 


V 


service  which  was  characteristic  of  the  old  store  and  to 
nr7se"e  the  name  that  has  stood  for  dependabihty  and 
honorable  dealing  with  customers.  ,New   mes  wUl  b 
added  that  will  appeal  to  the  old  clientele  and  to  the 
others  whose  patronage  is  sought. 

Mr.  Oilman  came  into  business  from  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege, class  of  1905.  He  came  from  a  f ami  y  noted  or 
scholastic  and  scientific  achievements.  History  and  1 1- 
erature  -and  a  full  share  of  athletics,-were  his  great- 
e  Unteresr  His  business  experience  has  been  gamed  m 
the  baSng  business  in  Baltimore  and  banking  and 
merchandising  in  New  York  and  Boston. 

At  the  present  time  Mr.  Oilman's  activities  are  with- 
in^ie  wo'rL  that  today  is  so  essential  -  the  d^^|-^s 
business  —that  of  The  Personnel  Problems  .^xpense 
and  sSice  features.  No  one  is  better  qualified  fo^^ 
this  work  than  Mr.  Oilman  whose  adaptable  and  under- 

sUnZg  nature  enables  him  to  ^t^ "t  coSl 
oiicstions  relative  to  the  human  factor.  1  he  coraiai 
frieSess  throughout  the  store  is  attributed  m  a  great 
measure  to  Mr.  Oilman's  influence. 

The  C  F.  Hovey  Company  maintains  buying  othces 
at  1164  Broadway.New  York,  and  at  12  Rue  Ambroise 

Thomas,  Paris. 

The  Directors  of  the  Present  Company  are: 

LOUIS  RIVERS 
J.  T.  OILMAN 
ADOLPH   EHRLICH 
A.  C.  RATCHESKY 
EDWIN  J.  DREYFUS 


JOSEPH  T.  OILMAN 
Vice-President 


1      'i 


iiiliillliSS^^^^^ 

jffl^tiiaiiiip^ 

E.  CROSBY  JOHNSON 

Member  of  the  firm,  and  with  them 
from  1870  to  1919 


SAMUEL  PIERCE  MANDELL 

Member  of  the  firm,  and  with  them 

from  1870  to  1919 


WOLCOTT  H.  JOHNSON 

Member  of  the  firm 
from  1894  to  1912 


SAMUEL  JOHNSON   IL 

Former  President  of  the  Compi^\ 

and  with  the  firm 

from  1894  to  1919 


X  -i-  ^^^loHmAi 


THE  HOVEY  STORE 
In  i8S4 


w 


;i 


lii-PIIIIISiillSliilljiSjiiiiilllil^Oil^ 


t    1 


Hovey,  Williams  &  Company 
1841-1846 

C.  F.  Hovey  &  Company 
Since  1846 

Members  of  the  firmjrom  1841  to  1919 


C.  F.  HOVEY  .... 
WASHINGTON  WILLIAMS 
J.  H.  BRYDEN  .  .  . 
WM.  ENDICOTT,  JR.  . 
HENRY  WOODS  .  .  . 
SAMUEL  JOHNSON  .  . 
JOHN  CHANDLER  .  . 
RICHARD  C.  GREENLEAF 
THOMAS  MACK  .  .  . 
AUGUSTUS  DE  PEYSTER 
E.  C.  JOHNSON  .  .  . 
S.  P.  MANDELL  .  .  . 
HENRY  ENDICOTT  .  . 
GEORGE  L.  LOVETT  . 
WOLCOTT  H.  JOHNSON 
W.  D.  MANDELL  .  .  . 
SAMUEL  JOHNSON    .     . 


1841-1859 
1841-1848 
1841-1850 
1846-1910 
1846-1902 
1846-1899 
1846-1849 
1846-1887 
1859-1894 
1859-1870 
1870-1919 
1870-1919 
1875-1882 
1873-1897 
1894-1912 
1891-1914 
1894-1919 


I! 


V>an\As  Vrin^rxz  Co., 
Boston 


THE  HOVEY  STORE 
In  1846 


■LiiiL^  -I.,  jjij.  .  -„i,  ...ijijim.,w.jji4i.i. 


«       i 


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0041443276 


/Ai\\(iHSt/ 


D254 .  53 


H82 


The  history  of  the  House  of  Hoveys 


^a^^/3> 


Nf^a- 


F-EB     7  1946 


END  OF 
TITLE 


